PAC to decide SC registrar’s fate today

The Public Accounts Committee would decide a final plan of action vis-à-vis the Supreme Court registrar during a sitting today (Tuesday) – half of which would be an in-camera session – and is likely to forward a reference against him towards parliament, Pakistan Today has learnt from a reliable source.

A source told Pakistan Today that despite an invitation extended to the SC registrar for participating in the body’s today (Tuesday) meeting, the SC registrar would be making no such appearance.

The body would review three options today, contacting Supreme Court of Pakistan over the conduct by the registrar, issuing summons for the registrar and asking police to detain and present him before the body or forwarding a reference to the parliament over the issue.

The source said PPP members in PAC are opposing the first option, saying they did not expect any justice or favourable decision from the Supreme Court.

The second option, suggested by committee member Noor Alam Khan, seeks police assistance for bringing the SC registrar before the body, and in handcuffs.

However, PAC members from the PML-N, including Sardar Ayyaz Saddiq, Zahid Hamid, Engineer Khurram Dastagir, Khawaja Asif and others, are strictly against the option, pressurising the PAC chairman to proceed with the issue peacefully and avoid confrontation between the institutions.

The third and final option, which is most likely to be exercised today with consensus, is forwarding a reference to parliament against the defiant attitude of the registrar. The proposal has the backing of all members from the PPP, PML-N and other parties in PAC.

The source said PAC would hold its meeting in two sittings and the latter session would be in-camera to review the registrar issue.

The first half of the proceedings would take up financial accounts and audit paras, objections related to the Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Industries, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Finance Division and the Planning and Development Division.